Hope For Budget 2027 To Further Strengthen Agri-Commodities Sector – Noraini
SERDANG, Sept 1 (Bernama) -- The Plantation and Commodities Ministry (KPK) hopes Budget 2027 will continue to focus on strengthening the agribased-commodities sector, particularly by increasing smallholders’ incomes and raising the industry’s competitiveness.
Its Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad, said KPK had identified five key areas for attention in Budget 2027 to strengthen the sector.
She said empowering smallholders through quality inputs, good agricultural practices, and support for replanting programmes to increase productivity and income was one of them.
“Technology is changing the way the agricultural sector operates. This development also carries significant implications for the agribased-commodities sector.
“The palm oil, rubber, timber, cocoa, pepper and kenaf industries must continue to leverage technology to increase productivity, reduce costs and produce higher-value products,” she said in a statement today.
Noraini said another KPK focus is to accelerate mechanisation, automation and digitalisation, including the use of smart technologies and artificial intelligence to improve efficiency and reduce reliance on manual labour.
She said KPK also wants to strengthen downstream industries through research, the commercialisation of innovations and the development of new high-technology products to create and retain greater domestic value of the country’s key commodities.
“Attention must also be given to sustainability, traceability and compliance with international standards to ensure that Malaysian agribased commodity products will continue to be accepted and stay competitive in the global market,” she said.
She said the next focus was to develop local talent via the strengthening of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), skills training and increased participation among youths.
She said talent development has to align with industrial changes, which are becoming increasingly technology-driven, automated and oriented towards highly skilled jobs.
Noraini said KPK is confident that government support through Budget 2027 could accelerate the transformation of the sector. This will ensure that the industry continues to be one of the pillars of the national economy and contribute to the people’s well-being.
Earlier, Noraini launched the Smallholder Oil Palm Replanting Financing Incentive Scheme, a collaboration between Agrobank and the Malaysian Palm Oil Board.
The launch ceremony was held in conjunction with the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition 2026 here.
-- BERNAMA